Volvo Ocean Race- Forget the f-word - Team SCA profiled

by Jonno Turner on 20 Aug 2014

Team SCA finishes at dawn off Cowes to beat the all female round Britain record. SCA skippered by Sam Davies, crossed the finish line of the 2014 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race off the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes at 06.10.39 BST on Satuday 16th August 2014 with an elapsed time of 4 days, 21 hours, 00 minutes and 39 seconds. Rick Tomlinson / Team SCA

Laughter peppers the air as the team relaxes in the English sun, and perhaps more than any other in this race, they are truly bonded – from seasoned round the world solo sailors, to young and enthusiastic rookies.

Team SCA harbours a mix of talent and experience – and Sam reckons that such a team dynamic is invaluable.

'Yes, it is everything,' she nods. 'We have the luxury of great preparation and support, but that also means that there’s a lot of expectation upon us.'

'We’ve all seen Big Brother, and we know how hard it is to co-exist in a tiny environment. It’s a challenge in itself, for a group of people to overcome these ups and downs – and there will be many of them as we go around the world.'

But the challenge of nine months of gruelling sailing, cramped onboard with minimal food and extreme weather conditions is not the only one on the horizon.

After all, Sam, Abby and their teammate Carolijn Brouwer are all mums, and there are many more wives, girlfriends, daughters and best friends amongst this 14-strong crew.

It’s fair to say, it's not easy balancing a life on land with the irresistible tug and pull of the ocean.

But more importantly, these are 13 sailors, and an Onboard Reporter, all with saltwater running through their veins – and losing a little bit of their home life is just another sacrifice they make to the sea.

'We’re living a selfish life,' admits Sam. 'I haven’t opened a bill, or emptied the rubbish, for months. Everything is focused around us, and the boat.'

'Sometimes, I feel guilty. When I go away, I almost forget that I have a family. I’m not saying that I don’t miss them, it’s hard to be away so much, but this thing is just so intense.'

Libby agrees that, sometimes, stepping off the boat, rather than on it, can be the toughest point.

'You go from spending so much time with certain people, and you step off – and you’ve got your friends and family, which is great – but they just want to ask you questions, and that’s really hard!'

For eighteen 18 months, twice as long as the race, the crew have toiled and trained in the bellowing winds of Lanzarote - an intensive infancy which has fortified this diverse and determined team.

And now, they’re empowered, excited, and most of all, ready, to get out on the oceans.

'I can't wait go round Cape Horn, that’ll be awesome,' Libby says. 'And getting over to New Zealand, because some of my friends moved out there a couple of years ago, and had a little girl who is named after me!'